“You wouldn’tdaremess with a pregnant man’s potatoes.”
“Try me.”
“What are you two arguing about in here?” Kur’tok grumbled.
He strode into the den with Zat’tor at his side. The two had become good buddies since Kur’tok’s return to the village. The big, buff Maeleons were like two peas in a pod.
“Nothing,” I said angelically.
Kur’tok planted a gruff kiss on my head. “You’d better not be. We have things to do.”
Zat’tor proudly showed off the basket full of pink onions. “Look, Levi! We had a surplus.”
Levi melted whenever Zat’tor spoke to him. He instantly forgot about his dark potato schemes. “Oh, they look amazing, Zat’tor.” He sighed wistfully. “You’re so good at picking onions.”
I snorted. He’d praise his filum for anything. But now that I had one of my own, I understood the sentiment. Our sexy, strong alien mates could do no wrong in our eyes.
Kur’tok placed a large, warm hand on my upper back. “How do you feel?”
“Bloated and huge,” I admitted, flashing him a smile. “But otherwise, great.”
He grunted, then reached for my basket with his tentacles. “Let me carry that for you.”
I yanked it out of his reach. “No way! This ismytask, and I intend on fulfilling it.”
Kur’tok scowl-pouted. He always wanted to do everything for me, to ensure I was 100% comfortable at all times. It was super sweet, but sometimes a guy wanted to dosomething.
“Fine,” he conceded. “Then let’s go before your frail flesh-bag arms get tired.”
Our group headed over to Jaeyoung and Linn’ar’s den, where the pair had prepared quite a bit of food. How they managed to do that while two younglings ran around causing mayhem, Ihadn’t a clue. Dai’zee—Levi and Zat’tor’s daughter—tried to grab a spatula from the counter, while Kii’ran did everything in their power to shove a carrot up their nose.
Since Jaeyoung and Linn’ar were busy and didn’t notice, Kur’tok intervened. He gently pried the carrot away from their face and tossed the now-soiled carrot out the door. He picked up Kii’ran, who looked tiny in his massive, buff arms.
“We don’t put food up our nose,” he instructed gently. Whenever he spoke to kids, his voice softened. It was freaking adorable.
Kii’ran blinked, then reached for the potatoes in my basket. I gave them the offending potato from earlier. Their green face lit up as they gnawed on it.
“Our little secret,” I whispered with a grin.
“Hey. We’re back with the rest of the ingredients,” Levi announced. “Are you two ready?”
“Bring them here,” Jaeyoung ordered, stirring the pot in front of him. Linn’ar daintily wiped the sweat off his forehead like a nurse assisting a doctor—which was mostly true. “You can cut up the potatoes and onions. Just make sure the kids don’t try to steal your knife. They’re bored out of their minds.”
Just as he spoke, Dai’zee managed to snatch a wooden spatula off the counter. Her dad Zat’tor darted forward like lightning, grabbing the spatula away from her before it was used for any mischief. She opened her mouth to complain before Zat’tor scooped her up and tickled her, making her burst into laughter.
“How about I cut up the veggies, and everyone else babysits outside?” Levi suggested.
Jaeyoung’s stirring paused. He slowly glanced over his shoulder, arching a brow at his ex-captain. Before he could open his mouth, Levi rolled his eyes.
“Guys, I’m a grown-ass man with a kid, Iamfully capable of helping in the kitchen,” he complained.
“I’m sure you are,” Jaeyoung said. “But you’re holding the knife backwards.”
Levi frowned, then noticed his mistake and flipped it around.
We silently prayed for Levi, then left him to his duties and slipped outside the den. The air smelled fresh and sweet. Every day, the scent got stronger, and easier to notice. I even heard quiet whispers on the wind, coming from nobody in particular, yet my gut said they belonged to the flowers and plants surrounding us. I felt like I was becoming part of the planet itself. Was it because Kur’tok had impregnated me and changed my DNA?
“So, Paz,” Zat’tor said in his deep voice, “do you feel ready for a youngling of your own?”
